23:53 - Sunny PagliaccioNote to self: Do NOT open links on max volume in the middle of a quiet night. Otherwise, not bad. :D

23:52 - ApothecaryFast food workers planning a strike in support of $15/hour wages next month. I'm a tutor in a reading lab at a college and I don't even make that much, a bit of an overestimation of one's importance, don'tcha think?

I'm angry at Opeth for releasing an all-easy-listening album, but I appreciate the album in itself. So when I rate it, I'd give it a 7 maximum, not because the album is musically average (it isnt) but because I am disapponted, having waited for a good Opeth album for two years only to get this.

So when I rate it, I'd give it a 7 maximum, not because the album is musically average (it isnt) but because I am disapponted

That's some mighty objective thinking you've got there.

Objectivity my ass

Seriously, when I rate an album, I have to take the band's status and history into consideration, and I believe that's being objective.
And no, I have every right to lower my rating when I'm disappointed with the effort, I'm a human with opinions, not a machine, you know.

So when I rate it, I'd give it a 7 maximum, not because the album is musically average (it isnt) but because I am disapponted

That's some mighty objective thinking you've got there.

Objectivity my ass

Seriously, when I rate an album, I have to take the band's status and history into consideration, and I believe that's being objective.
And no, I have every right to lower my rating when I'm disappointed with the effort, I'm a human with opinions, not a machine, you know.

Ofcourse you can, I didn't say you couldn't. But it is kinda lame and childish.
To each his own, I suppose.

So when I rate it, I'd give it a 7 maximum, not because the album is musically average (it isnt) but because I am disapponted

That's some mighty objective thinking you've got there.

Objectivity my ass

Seriously, when I rate an album, I have to take the band's status and history into consideration, and I believe that's being objective.
And no, I have every right to lower my rating when I'm disappointed with the effort, I'm a human with opinions, not a machine, you know.

But it is kinda lame and childish.

"lame and childish" is rating an album 1 or 2 because "it sucks". Lowering the rating by one point because you don't like the direction the band is going is neither lame nor childish, my good man. I demand an apology or I'll sue.

Sorry, don't like overly subjective people. I understand that we "aren't machines", but I appreciate some level of rational objectivity in others when discussing music or other forms of art.
Anyway, offtopic

Sorry, don't like overly subjective people. I understand that we "aren't machines", but I appreciate some level of rational objectivity in others when discussing music or other forms of art.
Anyway, offtopic

Have you all gone deaf or something? This album is brilliant, and although I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, in MY opinion if you think this album is weak, you are out of your fucking mind. Granted, it took me a few listens as well, but now I can't stop. It is all I have listened to for a week now.

Anyway, I think their next album will be back to their prog-death sound. They have not quit being a metal band, they just like to experiment with different styles. Ghost Reveries came right after they did Damnation, and it is one of their hardest and darkest albums to date.

Wow, I really needed more of a warning before listening to this. This album is fused together.... badly.
I don't get it.... may need another 15 listens. At this stage I can't appreciate it. Bring back Peter Lindgren!!!

album is great, although I found the drumming to be both less fine-tuned and more stale then opeth's previous albums, not just because of the loss of metal elements but there just not as complex as I would want it to be. still really good though, definatly an 8 or 9.

To everyone whining about this new ablum, keep in mind that's why opeth is awesome. Mikael has always done what he pleases and this is what keeps things interesting. Each Album has a somewhat different sound, but it still sounds like opeth. So this one is a little more proggy, so what we can't expect them to keep pumping out the same kind of material every album. It might not be as heavy as watershed was, but it still sounds like opeth doesn't it? I think it's pretty freaking sweet, and i admire Mikael for doing what the hell he wants and made a masterpiece here!

I'm not sure I like it yet. What disapoints me is that it sounds too much like Porcupine Tree with Akerfeldt's voice. The sound of Opeth was mixing Swedish Death Metal with Progressive rock, now they threw all the Death Metal elements away so I think they lost a great deal of their originality. They sound like any other 70's worshipping prog rock band which I think is really lame. The music in itself is good, it's just not Opethish enough.

It is a boring album for me. Doesnt matter the name of the band on the cover, anyway I might give some more listenings, but after 2, doesnt convince me. And if I need 15 or a bottle of wine to enjoy it -as someone said some comments up here- :S I'd rather listen some other album XD

Have you all gone deaf or something? This album is brilliant, and although I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, in MY opinion if you think this album is weak, you are out of your fucking mind. Granted, it took me a few listens as well, but now I can't stop. It is all I have listened to for a week now.

Anyway, I think their next album will be back to their prog-death sound. They have not quit being a metal band, they just like to experiment with different styles. Ghost Reveries came right after they did Damnation, and it is one of their hardest and darkest albums to date.

After hearing this album, I love it. I definitely think this album is the natural progression of what they did on Watershed. The growls may not be there, but the riffs are killer and I think this is some of the best vocal work they've ever had. I wish Damnation had been more like this, because this is how an Opeth album with only clean vocals should sound like.

Have you all gone deaf or something? This album is brilliant, and although I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, in MY opinion if you think this album is weak, you are out of your fucking mind. Granted, it took me a few listens as well, but now I can't stop. It is all I have listened to for a week now.

Anyway, I think their next album will be back to their prog-death sound. They have not quit being a metal band, they just like to experiment with different styles. Ghost Reveries came right after they did Damnation, and it is one of their hardest and darkest albums to date.

Opeth rules the fucking Earth, I don't care what anybody says.

Couldn't have said it better!

I personally thought the new Leaves Eyes was everything but a 'Metal' album, but from what i am reading a lot of people have the same thing to say about Heritage? September 20th for the official US release

Sorry, don't like overly subjective people. I understand that we "aren't machines", but I appreciate some level of rational objectivity in others when discussing music or other forms of art.

Define "overly subjective" because if you call people "overly subjective for giving this album a 7, then you're just wrong.
Without comparing it to their discography since it's a completely different style) and just looking at the music from what it is... I'll still give it something around 7,5. It's good, that's it for me.

Sorry, don't like overly subjective people. I understand that we "aren't machines", but I appreciate some level of rational objectivity in others when discussing music or other forms of art.

Define "overly subjective" because if you call people "overly subjective for giving this album a 7, then you're just wrong.
Without comparing it to their discography since it's a completely different style) and just looking at the music from what it is... I'll still give it something around 7,5. It's good, that's it for me.

Define "overly subjective" because if you call people "overly subjective for giving this album a 7, then you're just wrong.
Without comparing it to their discography since it's a completely different style) and just looking at the music from what it is... I'll still give it something around 7,5. It's good, that's it for me.

Tl;dr: Cd is pretty sweet. Imo it's refreshingly progressive and doesn't let it's arms open completely to accessibility. Throw out any expectations or others' interpretations, and just listen to the album.

I really dug Heritage right away. Which surprised me. I probably say this every time Opeth comes up, but Damnation was their last CD I liked chronologically. I do want to revisit Ghost Reveries and Watershed now. I've tried in the past to enjoy those albums, but they failed each time. I even found myself scoffing anytime someone brought up Opeth in a conversation.

Admittedly, Heritage seems rather directionless. That usually would bother me, but I think the progressive musicianship, instrumentation synergy and production clarity are very well done, and makes up for the wandering song structures. Perhaps I need to view the cd at different perspective to figure out what I view as "directionless". It's rather enjoyable to follow the musical contouring grooves between everything, especially the drums and bass. I can't help to put the album on repeat.

I wholeheartedly disagree with anyone who says this album isn't metal. It's soft and subtle, but it is absolutely still metal, and captures the progressive genre perfectly. How can anyone say this doesn't sound like Opeth? I don't care what Hitler said, it's very reminiscent of Damnation just not as gloomy, and little more jazzy/ prog rock. Sure there is some "experimentation" going on, but if the sound didn't change, we'd still have people complaining anyways (probably me). From what others see as only experimentation, I just see as growing. I'm sure they'll bring back the growls and faster tempos.

I stopped giving a shit about Opeth for a while, and this CD has somewhat rekindled my interested again. That's a good thing.

Sorry, don't like overly subjective people. I understand that we "aren't machines", but I appreciate some level of rational objectivity in others when discussing music or other forms of art.

Define "overly subjective" because if you call people "overly subjective for giving this album a 7, then you're just wrong.
Without comparing it to their discography since it's a completely different style) and just looking at the music from what it is... I'll still give it something around 7,5. It's good, that's it for me.

Well, he said (paraphrase) "This isn't an average album, but I give it 7 because I'm dissapointed because of the long wait". Look, I have no problem if someone gives album a 1 or 2, that's ok if you really have the reasons to rate the album that way, but this is overly subjective, being that he puts his own ill feelings because of the "wait" in front of objective worth of an album.

Again, I have no problem with low ratings (again, if you have reasons beside downrating to do that), but with afforementioned subjectivity. In general, not just here on MS.

Sorry, don't like overly subjective people. I understand that we "aren't machines", but I appreciate some level of rational objectivity in others when discussing music or other forms of art.

Define "overly subjective" because if you call people "overly subjective for giving this album a 7, then you're just wrong.
Without comparing it to their discography since it's a completely different style) and just looking at the music from what it is... I'll still give it something around 7,5. It's good, that's it for me.

Well, he said (paraphrase) "This isn't an average album, but I give it 7 because I'm dissapointed because of the long wait". Look, I have no problem if someone gives album a 1 or 2, that's ok if you really have the reasons to rate the album that way, but this is overly subjective, being that he puts his own ill feelings because of the "wait" in front of objective worth of an album.

Again, I have no problem with low ratings (again, if you have reasons beside downrating to do that), but with afforementioned subjectivity. In general, not just here on MS.

Exuse me, I meant I was disappointed with the direction this band has taken on the last two albums. The wait itself had nothing to do with it, really.

Not even gonna listen til I get my signed copy from the concert. But did anyone else find it funny that NPR is streaming ANOTHER metal album. Funny stuff.

well, it's not really a metal album... but it is hilarious to see this stuff (and Krallice) streaming on that site/station. i guess it's an attempt to draw in the young audience to listen to their programming... hoping metal fans are empty vessels waiting to be told how to think, i suppose.

Not even gonna listen til I get my signed copy from the concert. But did anyone else find it funny that NPR is streaming ANOTHER metal album. Funny stuff.

well, it's not really a metal album... but it is hilarious to see this stuff (and Krallice) streaming on that site/station. i guess it's an attempt to draw in the young audience to listen to their programming... hoping metal fans are empty vessels waiting to be told how to think, i suppose.

True but it is still from a metal band. Don't forget that they streamed some new WITTR as well. Whether they're really trying to or not, kudos to them for being a somewhat major media station/site and actually showcasing some metal. Not many other places would do that, although you may be totally right and it could just be to lure in young metal heads. But if that were the case I feel like they would play Bodom or Suicide Silence or whatever the kids are listening to these days

Sorry, don't like overly subjective people. I understand that we "aren't machines", but I appreciate some level of rational objectivity in others when discussing music or other forms of art.

Define "overly subjective" because if you call people "overly subjective for giving this album a 7, then you're just wrong.
Without comparing it to their discography since it's a completely different style) and just looking at the music from what it is... I'll still give it something around 7,5. It's good, that's it for me.

Well, he said (paraphrase) "This isn't an average album, but I give it 7 because I'm dissapointed because of the long wait". Look, I have no problem if someone gives album a 1 or 2, that's ok if you really have the reasons to rate the album that way, but this is overly subjective, being that he puts his own ill feelings because of the "wait" in front of objective worth of an album.

Again, I have no problem with low ratings (again, if you have reasons beside downrating to do that), but with afforementioned subjectivity. In general, not just here on MS.

Exuse me, I meant I was disappointed with the direction this band has taken on the last two albums. The wait itself had nothing to do with it, really.

Oh, sorry then, I tottaly missunderstud I thought you were just agravated because of the, well, wait between two albums. My bad